Which reagent would distinguish ethanoic acid from phenol?
- A. Sodium hydroxide solution
- B. Sodium metal
- C. Sodium hydrogen carbonate solution
- D. Litmus paper alone
Explanation
Ethanoic acid gives brisk effervescence of carbon dioxide with hydrogen carbonate while phenol, being too weak an acid, gives no reaction at all. Sodium hydroxide is no use, since both compounds are neutralised by it, and both also react with sodium metal because both contain a hydroxyl hydrogen. This is the standard sequence for telling apart an alcohol, a phenol and a carboxylic acid.
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